The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-03-26
HONOLULU RIFLES.
Exhibition Drill and Dance at Their
ArInOry-A Brilliant Assembia%e.

an exhibition drill and dance at
! their armory, Beretania street. The
interior of the building was tas-
! tily decorated with flags and lighted
up with the electric light. At the en-
trance was also another electric light,
the whole effect being very pleasing.
On the makai side of the armory lanai
had been erected for the accommoda-
ton of invited guests. On the opposite
! side was private box, which was occu-
pied by His Majesty the King, Lieuten-
ant General the Hon. J. o. Dominis,
! Their Excellencies Hons. Walter NJ.
! Gibson and Antoine Rosa and His Excel
cellency Hon. G. P. Iaukea, Governor OF
! Oahu His Majesty who wore the uni
form of a Colonel of the Princes Own,
was attended by Colonel James I'll.
| Boyd, Quartermaster General Nowlein,
| Majors J. d. Holt and II. F. Bertleman,
and Adiutant Isaac l.. Kaiama. Among
! those present were members of the Dip
| lomatic and Consular Corps, Prlvy
| Council and Legislature, the Captain
| L.
of the different military companies, and
| large number Of our prominent society
people.
A few minutes after s o'clock the drill
commenced by the company, which
numbered twenty-four picked men, fall
ing in and marching round the building,
headed by the Royal Hawaiian Band.
A halt was made in front of the Royal
box, when the company saluted His
Majesty, the band playing "Hawaii
Ponoi.'
Captain V. V. Ashford then put the
company through every movement in
Upton's tactics relating to the move
ments of company, including manual,
firing and field exercises. 1t was very
evident that the building was not large
enough to fully carry out the various
movements, as considerable counter
marching had to be done. But not
withstanding this drawback the COM
pany gave a splendid exhibition, which
reflected the highest credit on Captain
Ashford. He has not had the company
in hand for very long time, but the
proficiency shown last evening has
never been equalled in this city
by any company, and proves that
Capt. Ashford's instruction has been
thorough. Before he was called to the
command the company had dwindled
down to only a few members. Since
then the greatest Interest has been
shown by our young men in the organi-
zation, and to-day it numbers one hun
dred members, a significant fact that
the command is popular. The silent
of applause from the spectators. With
out any word of command the company
went through seventy movements of the
manuel exercise, which required no less
than two hundred motions. The va
rious movements were executed as if
by one man. The members of the COM
pany who took part lost evening may
feel proud of their success.
At the conclusion of the drill before
the company was dismissed, very in
the presentation of a very handsome
Hawaiian flag with gold tassels and a
gold fringe border. The staff on which
it was mounted is made of native wood.
His Majesty, stepping to the front of the
Royal box, made the presentation in the
following words:
Captain Ashford, Officers and Members
of the Honolulu Rifles Corp-SOldiers
am highly pleased to have the opportu-
nifty to present your corps with beauti-
full flag.
The banner of the nation represents all
that is good and patriotic in the State, and
all true soldiers are ever proud to be the
bearers and guardians, under all circum-
stances, of what symbolizes the honor
and welfare of their country. And in this
instance l feel assured that gentlemen
chosen to receive the colors of your corps
will accept the honorable duty of standard
bearers, not only on account of what your
ensign signifies. but especially on account
of the honors of this especial gift.
The ladies-God bless them-though
weak as warriors, are ever ready to inspire
men to gallant deeds, and if they do not
enlist for war, they prepare and animate
the soldier to a heroism and devotion
which would be but feebly illustrated with
out their sweet, tender, yet heroic spirit
And now they give you this flag, which
am pleased to place in your hands, and to
say to you to bear and defend it for the
honor of Hawaii.
And add my word of encouragement
to that of these noble ladies, and say, off
GERS and members of the Honolulu Rifles,
as your King, confde in your patriotism
and courage, and shall hope to see many
an honorable record inscribed upon the
flag l now present.
Captain Ashford replied as follows
May it please Your Majesty:
On behalf of the Honolulu Rifles, 1 beg
to testify to the pleasure it affords us all to
receive from the wives of the members of
the corps, and most especially through the
hands of Your Majesty, whose friendship
to the Rifles is known and appreciated by
everyone of US, this beautiful emblem of